Byron Center-based PRO-VISION Video Systems founder and CEO Steve Peacock was selected as one of the finalists for the Ernst & Young 2017 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the Michigan and Northwest Ohio region. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year national program. Award winners will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on Nov. 18.

ARTS

The Grand Rapids Public Museum announced its fall exhibit is called Brain: The World Inside Your Head. The exhibit will take patrons inside the head to probe the geography of a giant brain and stand in the midst of the brain’s constant electrical brainstorm as thoughts and sensations are generated.

Custer Inc. hired Sara Molina as vice president of design and development to lead the company’s talent development strategy.

Express Employment Professionals recently released its fourth podcast in a new series called “On the Job: From Hired to Retired.” The full podcast series, including the most recent episode can be found online at expresspros.com/podcast or downloaded on iTunes.

Walker-based VARGO announced it was chosen to design and build a waveless material handling system for WineDirect’s new fulfillment center in the Napa Valley region of California.

CONSTRUCTION

Wolverine Building Group recently broke ground for Robert Grooters Development and Hearthside Bakery’s new $7-million, 300,000-square-foot addition at 2975 Radcliff Ave. SE, Kentwood, that will be used for all the bakery’s storage needs. The new addition will be owned by Robert Grooters Development and leased to Hearthside Bakery.

TheGluten Free Bar is the recipient of its first Rising Star Award from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for the company’s recent exporting success.

Monica and Andrew Randles are the founders of Nutcase Vegan Meats, a minimalist product with no additives that are whole food “meat” products made from nuts, brown rice, quinoa and other items.

FOUNDATIONS

The Ottawa County Parks Foundation is the recipient of a $125,000 grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation for the Grand River Explorers Trail – Stearns Bayou Connector and is payable over two years.

HEALTH

Metro Health–University of Michigan Health in Wyoming signed physician-led Foundation Radiology Group to provide all patient imaging services. The 208-bed acute care teaching hospital serving Kent County and the surrounding Grand Rapids area will make the transition to Foundation Radiology for medical imaging services beginning July 1.

HOSPITALITY

Randi Talmage was appointed to sales manager of the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, part of the AHC+Hospitality portfolio of hotels. Since joining AHC+Hospitality in 2006, Talmage has continued into various roles and into management due to her ambition and eagerness to grow within the hospitality industry in Grand Rapids.

HUMAN SERVICES

Marvin Thomas joined the Dwelling Place’s board of directors.

INSURANCE

The Lake Michigan Insurance Agency of Grand Rapids was named one of the Top 10 growth agencies for the Company in the Western Michigan Region for 2016 by Auto-Owners Insurance.

Max Larson and Andi Kober joined CapSure Insurance Group as account managers. Larson is responsible for gaining new and existing clients to improve the client’s overall experience with the company. He specializes in property, liability and workers’ compensation. Kober is alicensed agent in property and casualty who works with different insurance carriers policies to see which fits best with client’s needs.

LOGISTICS

BluJay Solutions in Holland announced ACH Food Companies selected its Logistics as a Services offering. ACH, a North American distributor and manufacturer of baking ingredients and products, is tapping BluJay’s expertise to optimize transportation management, effortlessly scale to meet customer and industry demands and reduce freight costs.

MANUFACTURING

California Closet Co. Inc. announced the promotions of Cheryl Compton to vice president of product management and Gary Anys to director of manufacturing.

MEDIA

Julie Brinks was named vice president and general manager of WOOD-TV (NBC), WOTV-TV (ABC) and WXSP-TV (My Network) and associated digital services including woodtv.com and wotv4women.com, serving Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo-Battle Creek.

RESTAURANTS

Noco Provisions intends to open in July at the corner of Forest Hills Avenue and Cascade Road with a full menu, bar and patio. Noco Provisions also will feature a seasonally driven menu of elevated twists on regional comfort classics with a distinct, approachable atmosphere.

TRANSPORTATION

The Ottawa County Road Commission now has Twitter and Facebook accounts to post construction updates, road closures and other information at Facebook.com/ottawacorc and Twitter.com/ottawacorc.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH

Van Andel Research Institute chief scientific officer Peter Jones received a 7-year, $7.8-million grant from the National Cancer Institute’s R35 Outstanding Investigator Award program to support the development of epigenetic cancer drugs.

TECHNOLOGY

EarthTronics in Muskegon introduced a 4000K color temperature addition to the LED Direction Adjustable Wall Pack series to provide exterior, wide-flood area illumination for commercial, industrial and municipal facilities. The 4000K color temperature offers building managers the opportunity to reduce the blue light spectrum often associated with higher color temperatures. This answers the trend away from blue light sources that can be associated with dark sky as well as health concerns.

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About GRBJ

Since 1983, the Grand Rapids Business Journal has been West Michigan's primary and most-trusted source of local business news. The weekly print edition of the Business Journal, a must-read for the area’s top decision-makers, is known as the business newspaper of metro Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and all of West Michigan.

grbj.com provides the same trusted and objective business reporting that the Business Journal is known for -- plus real-time original content, timely enewsletters/alerts, exclusive blogs and more. Business Journal subscribers receive the weekly print edition, including bonus publications like the annual Book of Lists, and also complete access to all content on grbj.com.

The Grand Rapids Business Journal is published by Gemini Publications.